COMPLETE! What was once a hope for peace becomes a determination to prevent the utter destruction of the home they had already fought once to save. CidVin, RenoReeve, TsengSeph, ZackElena Language, Lime, MF, MM, Angst, Sequel, Character Death

There
were only sixteen eyes to watch the fading of the sunset, sixteen
voices to murmur a soft goodbye to a man who had been friend,
husband, and leader to them. While it had been for a short time, they
had all eventually grown to love him and were now saying their final
farewells. There was nothing to bury of him but their grief for his
passing. They laid flowers of the very same kind that had once been
gifted to him, at the etched stone on a high bluff overlooking Fort
Condor.

Aeris
managed to stand stoic, her eyes dry but her heart breaking with
every passing second. Midori shifted restlessly inside of her, also
mourning her father's death but there was nothing Aeris could do.
Cloud was truly gone, joined with the Life stream, and there was no
coming back for him.

She
could feel it on her heart, a slow and tremulous gripping feeling. It
was the grief, expounded greatly and reminding her that she was
alone. She had her friends, her dearest companions, but there was no
one to love her as Cloud had, with his goofiness and his confused
attempts at everything he tried. Yet, he had found in his peace in
the end and Aeris couldn't fault him for that. He had wanted to
make sure his wife and child were safe no matter the cost, his desire
to protect those that mattered to him intrinsic.

And
she knew that the others would miss him as well.

No
one knew where Cid and Vincent were. The two men had simply vanished
sometime during the night after the victorious return. It was rumored
that one of the fort's military helicopters disappeared as well.
But that was only an idle gossip. No one was really surprised either.
They had been through hell and back to find each other and deserved a
little rest and relaxation.

But
all others were present. The Turks had come, one by one, saluting the
headstone and paying their respects to a man whom they had grudgingly
come to admire. Rude, especially, was grateful, since it had been
Cloud's bravery that had ensured the safety of his own wife and
son. In his mind, he made a careful promise to help watch over Aeris.
He owed her greatly.

Denzel
stood side-by-side with his adopted father, little hand grasping
desperately onto his as he tried not to cry. In his heart, he still
felt that he was to blame for Cloud's death, despite the fact that
the adults were assuring him otherwise. He missed Cloud's smile and
how the blond had always been there to explain things in words he
could understand.

Sephiroth
himself held shadowed eyes, guilt warring inside of him with a
ferocious hunger, taking away all relief he might have felt for their
victory. His purpose in reviving had been to help protect the world,
to right the wrongs he had forced upon it. Now he had more failures
to add to the weight on his heart.

Cloud
had trusted him and paid for it. There were things never said,
questions never answered and Sephiroth would never be able to voice
them. He had the feeling that if Cloud had lived, they might have
become friends. He had hoped to make up for destroying Cloud's life
after the war, but now, it was far too late.

Opposite
from him, Reeve was whispering his own silent farewells, quietly
thanking a man who had given him a second chance when no one ever
wanted to trust him again. He was grateful for the fact that Cloud
never pried and never demanded answers. And his hand, intertwined
with Reno's, was all the comfort he would need.

Zack
was solemn, a strength by the side of his two best friends, one hand
clasped warmly around Aeris' to offer her comfort. His presence
helped keep Sephiroth calm as well, lest the man shake himself to
pieces. In his heart, he too, was saying goodbye. To a boy he had
helped before, a rare friend in a place that seemed to breed only
enemies.

It
seemed wrong that Cloud should have been the one to die when Zack had
only been restored to life. But the Planet had spoken, and the former
SOLDIER knew that Cloud was not coming back.

No
one had spoken at the funeral; there really was no need. Everyone had
spoken their silent goodbyes without a single shed tear then promptly
turned and filtered back into Fort Condor until only Aeris remained,
staring dry-eyed at her husband's memorial stone.

It
was a paltry symbol to a man that had given so much, but she knew
anything grander would have made Cloud uncomfortable.

"They
loved you, you know," she whispered softly, her voice carrying no
further than her own ears. Still, she knew that Cloud would hear her.
"You never thought you would have any friends but now… here they
are, mourning your loss."

Her
hand rested on her belly, rubbing across the mound comfortingly as
she swallowed thickly. "I don't know how we're going to do it
without you, Cloud, but we're strong, so don't worry. I've
enough worried friends right now that I'm suffocating in them,"
she commented with a light smile, enough to pull a bit of a laugh
with her lips.

A
wind stirred, carrying on it the scent of the fresh flowers that had
been laid there. She had requested they not pick them, so several
flower pots had been scrounged and flowers planted in them. They were
bright and scraggly against the grey of the stone, but she couldn't
deny how much they suited Cloud.

Aeris
took a deep breath, swallowing over the huge lump in her throat and
blinking back the warm tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
"I'm going to miss you, Cloud. You're irreplaceable to me and
Midori both and I wish that you were here, with us. But I know that's
impossible and I've accepted that."

Her
eyes lifted upwards, to where the sky was darkening gradually as if a
storm was impending. A fitting end to the day she thought. Her gaze
turned back to the stone, tracing the letters of her husband's
name.

With
that, she pressed a kiss to her fingers before transferring it to the
stone. Midori shifted inside of her, bringing a smile to her mother's
face, as Aeris turned and walked away from the gravestone. It was the
last official goodbye she would give.

The
pain would never leave and he would always resonate inside of her,
but dwelling was something he would never allow her to do and so she
would not. She was determined to find a measure of happiness for her
and her daughter, for Cloud's sake if not her own.

And when he came to the place where the wild
things are, they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their
terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their
terrible claws--

The well-used page
turned with a quiet swish.

--til Max said "BE STILL!" and tamed them with
a magic trick of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking
once and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of
all and made him king of all wild things.

"And now," cried Max, "let the wild rumpus
start!"

"Seph?" The voice
was sleepy and slurred as Denzel lifted drowsy brown eyes to the man
he had attached himself to. He squirmed slightly in his warm position
tucked beneath Sephiroth's arm, trying to look into the older
male's face.

Gray-green eyes shifted
from the child's book between his hands, down to the small child
perched on the bed next to him. "Yes?"

Innocent eyes stared
back at him. "Are you going to leave?" the boy asked.

Sephiroth blinked,
surprised by the question. "I…" he trailed off, not wanting to
lie, with his heart pounding in his chest.

Somehow, he had gotten
attached to the child in the short time he had known him. He was used
to hero worship from his days at ShinRa academy but the devotion that
Denzel displayed was something entirely different. And the
unconditional love and trust that Denzel radiated helped to cleanse
him of the tainted feeling that had settled inside of him recently.

If someone as innocent
and open as a child could stand his presence, then maybe there was
something of worth left in Sephiroth after all.

The look on the kid's
face was full of hope; he honestly hoped that Sephiroth had the right
words to say to him. The former General sighed.

"Denzel, I will try,"
he responded, lifting his hand from the book to ruffle it through
brown locks.

His touch appeared to
placate the boy, but only for a moment. A look of serious
concentration crossed his face, which was actually quite amusing
before Denzel raised his hands and reached for something around his
neck. It took several seconds for Sephiroth to realize what they
were.

"I forgot to give
them to you," Denzel mumbled as he struggled to detangle the
military tags from his shirt, and failed miserably.

Sephiroth quickly
covered Denzel's hands with his own and stopped his fumbling. "Keep
them," he said softly. "You need them more than I do."

The smile he received
in response would have lit the world. Sephiroth wondered if it was
sane of him to be so grateful to someone who was only a child. Denzel
nodded happily and snuggled closer to his adoptive father, eyes
already half-sliding shut.

"You finish the story
now?" he asked, his gaze falling on the colorful pages.

Sephiroth couldn't
help but grin slightly in response. "Yeah," he responded warmly,
ruffling the brown hair again. Clearing his throat, he lifted the
book and attempted to pick up where he had left off.

"And now," cried Max, "let the--

"You read that part
already," Denzel mumbled groggily.

"Right. I remember
now."

"Now stop!" Max said and sent the wild things
off to bed without their supper. And Max the king of all wild things
was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.

Then all around from far away across the world he
smelled good things to eat so he gave up being king of where the wild
things are.

The wild things roared their terrible roars and
gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and
showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and
waved goodbye and sailed back over a year and in and out of weeks and
through a day and into the night of his very own room where he found
his supper waiting for him.

And it was still hot.

The book closed with a
quiet thump as Sephiroth pondered the children's tale internally.
It was rather odd but if Denzel liked it, then he supposed he could
endure. His gaze slid to the child, who unsurprisingly, had fallen
asleep against him, murmuring softly in his slumber. A smile graced
the former General's lips before he laid the book on the nightstand
to his right then slowly eased out of the bed, moving carefully to
slide Denzel down into a comfortable position.

He froze when the boy
made a sound of protest, but when he merely twitched then fell silent
again, Sephiroth slipped him beneath the covers and managed to escape
from the bed. He ruffled brown hair once more, the only sign of
affection he knew, before clicking the lamp next to the bed and
slipping silently from the room. A nightlight dimly glowed on the far
side of the room behind him, cascading star shapes onto the ceiling.

Outside, Sephiroth
closed the door to the room with a quiet click. Aeris looked up when
she heard the sound, calmly marking the page in the romance novel she
was reading by lamplight in the relatively small common area of the
room the residents of Fort Condor had loaned to her. They had been
remarkably supportive when the friends had come to them for help.

"Thank you for the
story idea," Sephiroth commented as he stepped further into the
room, pausing by where she sat curled up in a chair, dark shadows
lining under her eyes. "It put him right to sleep."

She smiled at him and
rose to her feet, though somewhat laboriously due to her pregnancy.
"It always works. My mother used to read to me," she replied,
stepping past him and heading for the small mini-fridge that had been
brought to their room.

Sephiroth nodded
somewhat distractedly, bothered by the look of fatigue on her face.
Given that the funeral for her husband had been not but a few hours
earlier, it was understandable. The guilt flared up again, railing
loudly in Sephiroth's heart and he belatedly realized that he had
yet to apologize for his part in Cloud's death.

His gaze slid to the
floor, not strong enough to meet Aeris' perpetually strong gaze.
"Aeris, about Cloud…"

She shook her head and
touched his arm as she passed, squeezing it gently and forcing him to
look up at her. "You've nothing to apologize for," she said
delicately, jade eyes warm and accepting. "Cloud trusted your
judgment and made his choice. I do not blame you."

"Trusted me,"
Sephiroth repeated quietly before sighing. "I fear that there is
some big secret about Cloud that I don't understand. Why did he
trust me so much? Why admire me so deeply… beyond that of the
typical recruit?" It was something he had never understood about
the blond.

The flower girl
regarded him curiously, as if surprised by the question. "Sephiroth…
can't you recognize love when you see it?" she asked softly.

Gray-green eyes widened
and Sephiroth took an unconscious step backwards, dislodging her grip
from his arm. "Love," he repeated in complete shock, surprise
evident in his features. He clearly hadn't been expecting that, not
to mention that it was Cloud's widow who was telling him this
information.

"But…"

Aeris watched him for a
moment before elaborating. "Cloud's heart has always been divided
between what he wanted and what he could have." A small smile,
somewhat sorrowful, graced her lips. "I never felt second best or
that I was a consolation prize. I know he loved me. There was just a
part of him that always loved you, too."

"Do
you know how hard it is for me every time I look at you?"

"How
hard it is when I remember you're alive?"

"Am
I truly that beneath your notice?"

Suddenly, the last time
he had fought against Cloud, the words the blond had spoken before he
handed over his leadership to Sephiroth began to make sense. Cloud
had been trying to tell him then, that he had loved Sephiroth all
along. And he had wanted Sephiroth desperately to notice. Yet, even
then, the former General remained completely oblivious. No wonder
Cloud had reacted so strongly when Sephiroth returned out of the
blue.

Still, Sephiroth hadn't
known prior to the events of six years ago. "Why didn't he say
something?" the former General asked, completely bewildered. He had
known of the admiration but love… that he couldn't comprehend.

Her smile was sad.
"Would you have been able to?" she asked as she turned towards
him. "Consider who you were, Sephiroth. Cloud was too awed of you
to even think he had a chance."

It was decidedly
awkward, to hear of Cloud's love for him from the mouth of the
widow he left behind. His gaze fell to the floor. "You're right.
I would have kept my secret as well." Never mind that he had
already done that exact same thing with his crush on the Turk
commander. In that much, Sephiroth could sympathize with Cloud.

Aeris stepped forward
and patted his arm again. "Don't worry. Cloud was happy. He had
Midori and I after all."

Sephiroth raised his
gaze and nodded somewhat distractedly, still bewildered by what he
had learned. "Yes, of course," he responded before noticing a
strange look crossing her face. "Are you all right?"

Her hand moved to her
belly, rubbing it gently. "It's just Midori kicking," she
answered with a smile. Then her face turned mischievous. "Want to
feel it?"

Sephiroth blinked in
shock. "What?"

Aeris grinned as if she
held some big secret. "It's really neat, I promise," she
explained as she took several steps forward and grabbed his slack
hand, lifting it up to her belly. "See?" And before Sephiroth
could even think to pull away, she pressed his palm to her belly.

Gray-green eyes widened
in surprise as he felt something move beneath his touch. The life
inside of the flower girl was moving, little taps against the inside
that he could easily distinguish with his fingertips. Aeris released
his wrist, yet Sephiroth couldn't help but move his palm over her
stomach. It was incredibly fascinating.

He didn't even notice
when the flower girl watched him, incredibly pleased with herself for
showing him something far better than the violence and bloodshed
ShinRa had accustomed him to. "You ever think about having kids,
Sephiroth?"

The question surprised
him and he pulled back, running a hand through his hair. "No," he
answered quietly. He hadn't had that much of a childhood himself.
"I know nothing about raising children or anything like that."
Not to mention that he was gay and about the only thing he could do
was adopt, if he really wanted.

"Oh, it doesn't
take much," Aeris attempted to assure him, moving to sit back down
in her chair as a sudden wash of fatigue assailed her. "No one ever
really knows anyway. They just make it up as they go along."

Sephiroth shook his
head. "Maybe…" he trailed off, sucking in a breath as he
remembered the original reason he had come to see both Denzel and
Aeris. "I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor. I know that
I'm in no position to ask something of you but…"

Jade green eyes were
thoughtful. "I already told you that I hold no grudge. Please,
continue."

The former General
nodded. "I-- I can't be the stable influence that he wants me to
be," Sephiroth explained, gesturing vaguely to Denzel's door. "I
can barely take care of myself much less a little boy and there's
something…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "I don't know
if she's completely gone yet and I won't put him in danger like
that. Would you look after him for me?"

Aeris blinked in
surprise but understood completely. "I will but he'll want to see
you, too."

"I know. And I
promise to visit now and again, not to mention giving you whatever
help you need." He twisted his hands together before realizing what
he was doing and promptly shoved them down at his sides, refusing to
look the part of a shy, unsure man.

The flower girl nodded.
"All right. I will," she responded, and relief flooded the former
General's taut nerves. At least one thing in his life wouldn't be
ruined. He didn't know what he had done to be worthy of Denzel's
admiration, but he was determined to never lose it.

He
wondered, if he stared at it long enough, would he find all of the
answers swirling around in the amber fluid? Would all of life's
little mysteries suddenly be solved and the need for heartache and
despair erased? It hadn't worked before but that was because he had
always consumed it. Perhaps staring was a much better method for
obtaining oblivion.

Tseng
pondered this as he sat in the rather small bar at Fort Condor,
mostly deserted this time of the day, or evening rather, as nearly
all of the residents were either working or resting. Honestly, he
should have been doing that as well, but he was useless as a worker
and didn't dare close his eyes. Instead, he stared fervently at his
untouched shot glass, wondering if he should bother to lift it to his
lips. It had been sitting between his hands for the last two hours,
but he hadn't even taken one sip.

The
problem was that he wanted to. His mouth was parched, his stomach
craving that subtle burn. He could feel them, the low buzz at the
back of his mind and the quiet murmur of a thousand voices. He could
hear their whispers, reverberating in his skull; even the brush of
their breath tickling the skin of his ear was tangible. He wanted to
drown it and them out, erase every subtle suggestion and cry of pain
or loneliness. He listened now, but that didn't ease any of it.

Tseng
desired solitude above all else at the present moment, wanting to
bro—contemplate on recent events. He had to think about them, pick
apart each instance and analyze it for hidden meanings. Though he had
accepted it, they were still a gift he did not want. It didn't
matter that he held some semblance of control now, or that the
blinding pulse of their words in the back of his mind had become only
a dull roar of pain. Their misery was only compounding his own.

Why
didn't anyone ever want to bemoan their happiness? Why didn't
they have pleasant things to speak of? His cold heart was unsuited
for such gifts.

Tseng
slumped in his bar stool, the chair screeching backwards with a
staggered movement and sending an ear-splitting shriek through the
bar. Neither of the other two patrons even looked up at the sound,
already beyond sloshed. He hadn't asked what sorrows they were
drowning. It was an unspoken rule in all bars, especially since Tseng
had no plans to extrapolate on his own.

His
mind, already fractured and running in a thousand different
directions, turned to the past battle, the barely won victory. He saw
his own defeat at the hands of the goddess, a ridiculously easy
defeat that rankled his pride and filled him with a quiet anger. Not
because he had lost, because no man was infallible, but because he
had failed in his duty, he had failed Sephiroth. And now, Sephiroth's
pain was a direct result of his inability.

Inwardly,
Tseng cursed his own ineptitude. Persephone was no kind enemy, and he
wished her attacks on no one, especially not the already frayed
former general. It was as if she had dug her nails into his heart,
ripping out every memory and twisting it in her hands before showing
him the bleeding pieces.

Everything
he sought to block, she magnified. He saw his mother's tears and
his father's anguish, he saw his homeland disappearing as a boat
rocked violently on storm-tossed waves. He saw the first person he
ever killed for money, the fear and regret shining in her eyes and
the pleas for mercy on red-painted lips. But worst of all was that
she could summon up the emotions he had been feeling at the time as
well, throwing them back into his face.

Tseng
knew that Sephiroth had to have suffered the same. There was no
excuse for his failure.

There
was movement on the corner of his vision, followed by the screech of
another bar stool as someone hopped up onto the chair beside him.
Tseng tilted his head, not surprised in the least to find Elena
perched there. Her eyes darted from the drink in his hand, to his
eyes, and then back again before she lifted a hand, signaling to the
barkeep. She called him over with a twitch of the finger then
returned her attention to her commander.

"Tseng--"

"Shut
up, Elena," the Wutaiian interrupted more shortly than he meant to.
He had an inkling of what she planned on saying and had no intentions
of hearing it. "I've not even had a sip."

Brown
eyes blinked, completely unperturbed by his rudeness. "You were
thinking about it," she responded stubbornly. "I thought you had
overcome this."

Tseng
sighed and pushed the drink away from him, the glass making a shhhhnk
sound as it slid across the table. "It's not as if the snap of a
finger solves everything," he muttered, staring dedicatedly at the
amber fluid.

The
barkeep chose that moment to appear, silently asking Elena for her
order. She watched Tseng for a second before turning her attention to
the bartender.

"Your
best ale," she ordered briefly.

The
man nodded and turned away, allowing Elena to return her gaze to her
commander. "No, maybe not," she commented musingly, eyes
searching Tseng's face. He looked weary and strained, much like
Sephiroth.

A
finger barely brushed the tip of the glass, moving it across the
countertop with a definite noise. There was silence between them for
a moment before Tseng sighed again.

"The
battle… was not easily won," he finally said, knowing that he
needed to talk about it but hating that he had to. As far as
listeners went, however, Elena was his best choice.

His
subordinate and friend both didn't respond, silently waiting for
him to continue. Her drink was brought to her and she accepted it
with a nod of her head, taking a sip.

"Balaam
had awoken a goddess by the name of Persephone and her abilities were
beyond our comprehension. They were similar to mine but far more
powerful." He paused, drawing in a ragged breath and staring at the
alcohol, practically able to taste it on his tongue. "It was like
fingers were digging into my brain, picking apart my memories and
finding the cruelest and most painful of them only to throw them back
in my face. I was unable to stop her."

Elena's
brow crinkled, a sigh escaping her lips. "Tseng--"

He
shook his head, interrupting her. "It was the only order I had been
given. I was trusted to put an end to Apocalypto. Instead, I
shattered like fine glass in the wake of her power." He picked up
the glass, contemplated it, then set back down on the table and
signaled for the bartender. "Sephiroth is in pain because of my
failure."

"You
can't honestly blame yourself for that," Elena countered,
watching as he handed over the untouched alcohol and asked for water
instead. She admired his tenacity to try and stay sober. "From what
I heard, even the other gods were nothing in the face of her power."

The
Wutaiian was silent for a moment as he contemplated his water, taking
a small sip of the cold and refreshing liquid. He wasn't going to
argue with Elena. The fact remained was that he had failed and many
were hurt because of that. Isis would have not been forced to give
her life and Sephiroth would not have had to relive painful memories.
The feedback from his conflicting emotions was enough for Tseng to
understand just what Sephiroth was suffering.

Elena
sighed and shook her head. "I don't think I'll ever understand
you," she commented, taking a deep draw of the somewhat spicy ale
she had ordered. It was rather tasty and she couldn't help but hum
thoughtfully.

She
smiled then, reminded of her attempts to peek in on him and being
thwarted by a motherly Sephiroth of all things. Not that he outwardly
ushered her away, but it was just so cute she couldn't interrupt.
She had caught Zack's eyes when Sephiroth's back was turned and
that was enough for her.

She
left them alone, and had recently caught sight of the former general
standing all by his lonesome on the roof. Once that little problem
was taken care of, she was determined to find Zack. But first... to
deal with her commander.

"As
near as I can tell, probably more well than he needs to be," she
commented lightly, a slight chuckle escaping her lips.

Tseng
raised a brow. "And you say I make little sense."

She
laughed again, shaking her head as she downed the last of her first
mug and signaled for another. "Sephiroth was hogging him again,
making sure he had enough blankets and food and medicine, even though
he didn't need any of it." Her lips curled into a wide smirk.
"Zack was humoring him, of course. It was cute."

The
Wutaiian tilted his head to the side, frowning slightly. He couldn't
help the small bit of jealousy that tainted his heart, even if he
knew that they were only friends and Zack was with Elena in some
fashion. Besides all that, there was nothing between him and
Sephiroth. Not that the knowledge quieted the green-eyed demon raging
inside of him.

"That
doesn't bother you?" he asked, though it came out more of a
mumble as he stared at the grained wood of the bar top.

Her
new drink clomped to the top in front of her as the empty was swiped
away and Elena smiled at the bartender. "You would think I would be
jealous. I should be jealous. Honestly, I've tried to be jealous."
She sighed and dipped a finger into the ale, sucking off a few small
droplets of the beverage before continuing. "But then I look at
Sephiroth and see how much he needs Zack and all the jealousy I have
falls flat. I just feel petty."

She
shifted position, tipping her head to the side so that she could look
directly at her boss. "I understand it now. All his life, Sephiroth
has had no one. And now, Zack is the only family he can claim unless
he and Valentine somehow get their act together. I can't be jealous
of that." Elena smiled, revealing pure joy and not hidden pain, and
laughed lightly. "Besides, ShinRa boy is absolutely hetero and
pretty damn good at it."

Tseng
flushed and coughed, shaking his head at his subordinate. "Not that
I wanted to know that, Elena," he commented, trying to clear all
unwanted images of her and the SOLDIER in a compromising position.
There were just some things he did not want to see.

Elena
laughed at him, loudly enough to disturb the one other sloshed patron
in the bar. He looked up blearily before returning to his drink as
Elena nudged her boss with her elbow.

She
smiled mischievously, tilting her head to the side and gesturing
upwards with her eyes. "He's alone on the roof, brooding if I'm
not mistaken. I think he needs some cheering up." Amusement flooded
through her at the subtle reddening of her boss's features,
especially since it was quite obvious what she was insinuating.
"After all, what do you have to lose?"

"My
dignity," Tseng retorted, recalling how he had been rebuffed
before. It was humiliating. "I doubt he's any more ready now than
he was before." He shifted irritably in his seat, taking a drink of
his water and wishing he hadn't returned the alcohol. He could
really use the liquid courage.

"How
do you know if you don't try?" Elena countered smartly. "It
certainly beats sitting around in a bar and pretending that water is
vodka. Now that is what's pathetic, Tseng."

He
grimaced. "Why am I friends with you again?" Tseng asked, sliding
down from his bar stool and adjusting his clothes, attempting to look
slightly less rumpled.

"What?
Are you leaving?" Elena asked with a completely innocent air,
trying not to laugh at her flustered boss. A few giggles escaped her
nonetheless.

He
shot her an annoyed look, idly brushing down a few loose strands of
hair that had broken free from its usual unflustered appearance.
"Either that or lose what remains of my dignity to you," he
retorted sharply, shaking his head. "Goodbye, Elena."

Brown
eyes twinkled with amusement. "Bye, Tseng. Give him a kiss for me."

Tseng
glared at her, thought it was half-hearted before he left the bar,
ignoring her enthusiastic wave of farewell. Elena chuckled and
reached for her second drink, sucking it down until it was nearly
half empty. With any luck, Tseng and Sephiroth would take now as the
perfect opportunity to begin some sort of relationship. The two of
them were just so incredibly awkward, despite all attempts at being
cold and heartless. She couldn't help but think it was cute.

Elena
signaled for another mug, knowing that she would be finishing the
second rather quickly. It had been a while since she had sat and
drank for taste, unlike her boss and Reeve, she had quite the
tolerance for alcohol. And with the world saved and Tseng occupied,
she could finally take a break. Not to mention the lingering remnants
of Raijin's loss still echoed hollowly inside of her.

She
quickly swallowed down the last of her second and handed over the
empty mug as a new one was slid into place. The bartender's eyes
flickered past her as he brought it but before Elena could turn to
look, arms slid around her from behind and a warm body pressed
against her back. Warm lips kissed against her neck. Elena knew by
scent alone that it was Zack.

Humming
in her throat, she relaxed into the strong arms. "Shouldn't you
be in bed?" she questioned, shivering when a tongue slid along her
skin, leaving a wet trail behind.

The
spiky-haired man chuckled, rubbing his thumbs along her cloth-covered
abdomen. "Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on our resident
alcoholic?" Zack countered, breathing hotly in her ear.

Blue
eyes rolled as Elena shifted in her seat, turning to look into his
gaze. "I sent him to your commander," she explained with a
mischievous grin. "And as much as I'd love to watch, they're
awkward enough already."

With
that, she closed the space between them and kissed him, hard and
deep. Her tongue slid out of her mouth, teasing along the seam of his
lips before dipping inside, tasting deeply of the fresh mint flavor.
Zack's tongue was smooth against hers, stroking gently and coaxing
her to deepen the kiss. She eagerly accepted, lips smacking noisily
between them.

Zack
hummed approvingly, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. "You
wouldn't happen to have missed me, did you?" he asked teasingly.

She
raised a brow. "Don't ask stupid questions," Elena muttered,
slipping her hand down and squeezing his. "Now, what say you we
find somewhere a bit more private?"

The
ex-SOLDIER laughed at her before quickly lifting her weight easily
from the stool and setting her down on the ground. It always amazed
the Turk how strong he was, since he wasn't exactly the bulkiest of
men. Before she let him drag her away, however, she quickly dug into
her pocket and threw some gil onto the table, both for her and
Tseng's drinks since her boss had forgotten to pay before he left.

"I'd
say that sounds just about perfect," Zack responded, taking her by
the hand and leading her out of the bar. Elena couldn't help but
smile somewhat lecherously.

Meanwhile,
Tseng lingered outside the door that led to the roof of Fort Condor,
peering out through the small looking glass. He could see Sephiroth
standing at the far end of the platform, hands on the railing as he
stared out at nothing in particular. On top of that, the former
General was dressed down, wearing nothing but blue jeans and a
t-shirt, looking positively edible. It was the first time Tseng had
seen him in something other than black or armor. He rather liked the
change though the clinging leather was attractive as well.

He
was attempting to work up the courage to actually go outside, wanting
to speak to Sephiroth but hating to bother him. The former
silver-haired man seemed as if he were deep in contemplation, but
also appeared exhausted as well, a somewhat weary set to his
shoulders. And on the edge of Tseng's mind, he could hear the
trickling of Sephiroth's emotions, an oscillation of feeling that
he couldn't seem to sort out in his head, nor did he even want to
try.

Sucking
in a deep breath in an attempt to calm the unwelcome fluttering of
nerves inside his belly, Tseng decided to at least apologize for his
behavior earlier, when he had practically molested Sephiroth under
the guise of alcohol. For a moment, he wished he had decided to
consume the shot he had bought for himself.

Steeling
his courage, Tseng finally pushed open the door without making a
sound and stepped silently out onto the roof. His nose twitched at
the scent in the air, that of an approaching storm. Sephiroth didn't
even appear to notice that someone else was out there with him. Tseng
approached, his Turk stealth keeping his silence though he hadn't
meant to sneak up on the other male.

"Are
you hiding as well?" he asked tentatively, voice breaking the calm
quiet of the roof. It was an attempt at a joke.

The
taller male startled in surprise, having been completely lost in
thought. He half-turned as Tseng moved to the railing beside him.
"I'm considering it," he responded honestly, face contemplative
before realizing that there was probably a reason the Turk had spoken
to him. His expression changed solemnly.

"Were
you looking for me? Is something wrong?"

Tseng
shook his head quickly, not wanting to alarm the other male. "No,
everything's fine as far as I know," he answered, his eyes raking
over the former General's face. He was again reminded of how he had
been attracted to the man in the first place.

His
eyes, though lacking the incredibly bright glow of mako now, were no
less alluring than before. No matter how much Sephiroth appeared cold
on the outside, he could never completely hide from showing his
emotion in those gray-green orbs. His features were delicately
androgynous, but held a subtle hardening, that of a warrior, a man
bathed in blood time and time again, who could kill without a second
thought. Tseng was certain the same hardness reflected on his own.

"I
wanted to apologize," Tseng blurted hastily, not wanting to delay
his words any longer. Besides, he wasn't normally one for timidity
and wasn't about to start now.

As
Sephiroth's gaze slid to him, he continued, "For my actions
earlier. They were uncalled for."

Something
flashed in gray-green orbs that Tseng could not identify before the
taller male looked away from him, gaze drawn to the darkening sky,
quickly becoming overcast.

"I
see," he responded succinctly, seeming disappointed but it was
difficult for Tseng to tell. His fingers subtly curled around the
railing. "Was there anything else?"

The
Turk was quiet for a moment as he considered the options in his mind
before deciding against apologizing for his failure. They were both
men of war and battle; there was no need to bring up things as such
as that. Sephiroth had probably not even thought about it, even if
Tseng felt the lingering guilt. It was something that would be
fruitless to offer confessions for.

He
shook his head. "No, that was everything."

Again,
that look of disappointment crossed Sephiroth's features, though he
remained stony silent and still. Tseng sighed inwardly and turned to
leave, assuming that perhaps it was best if Sephiroth were alone. He
didn't seem to want any company. Tseng pushed down his own
discontent and took a step towards the door. He had to speak to Reeve
about ShinRa anyways.

He
hadn't moved more than a couple steps when Sephiroth's voice
floated out behind him. "Wait," the former General called,
somewhat hesitantly.

Tseng
shifted towards him. "Yes?"

"You
apologized," Sephiroth responded slowly, letting go of the railing
and putting his back to the horizon as he looked at Tseng. "Does
that mean you… regret it?" His face held the faint tinge of
embarrassment that Tseng couldn't help but find absolutely
endearing, that was until the implications of Sephiroth's question
hit him.

Silver
eyes widened slightly. "No, it doesn't," he answered quickly,
realizing that Sephiroth was just as lost as he in that moment.
Neither of them truly knew what to do around the other, wanting to
speak but losing the words, wanting to ask but fearing to overstep
boundaries. It was time someone took the initiative.

Riskily,
Tseng closed the distance between them by a step, until Sephiroth was
close enough to touch. He instantly noticed the subtleties; the
slight flaring of Sephiroth's nostrils, the tentative widening of
his eyes, the hitch of his breath and something akin to anticipation
flashing through his gaze. Licking his lips and swallowing thickly,
Tseng reached up and gently pressed his hand to the back of
Sephiroth's head. Locking gazes with the other man for a moment, he
ended the distance and brought their lips together in a sensual kiss.

Sephiroth
stiffened at first, unaccustomed to the nearness of others, before he
relented the kiss, lips slowly parting. Tseng took the opportunity to
slide his tongue within, teasing gently with Sephiroth's. The
former General's hands clenched at his sides briefly before slowly
uncoiling and rising, settling on Tseng's hips as if unsure whether
he was allowed to venture anywhere else.

The
Turk pressed closer to his captive, his body thrumming with desire as
he deepened the kiss, thoroughly enjoying Sephiroth's taste. His
free hand slid around the other male's waist, pulling their bodies
together. Tseng took an unconscious step forward, pinning Sephiroth
between him and the railing as his lips and tongue worked slowly
against Sephiroth's, weaving him into a spell of need and desire.

Tseng's
arousal began to slowly fill in his pants, driven by the somewhat
needy and most likely unconscious noises pouring from Sephiroth's
throat. His fingers trailed lightly through darkened, once silver
strands and he idly wondered if he was dreaming. Because this time,
there was no alcohol to hide behind and this time, Sephiroth wasn't
even trying to pull away. His fingers pressed into Sephiroth's
spine, their bodies pressed flush together. He didn't want to end
but knew that it must.

Though
he wanted to continue kissing Sephiroth, Tseng knew that there were
some things that needed to be cleared up. He reluctantly ended the
kiss and looked up into Sephiroth's eyes, pleased to find that they
were desire-clouded. It warmed his heart, not to mention that the
painful buzz of oscillating negativity on the back of his head had
been replaced by the subtle hum of Sephiroth's pleasure.

"I
want you," he spoke quietly yet bluntly, not wanting to talk around
in circles anymore. "And I have for a long time. If this is out of
bounds, let me know now because I don't know if I can stop."

His
fingers seemed to move of their own accord, thumb brushing across
Sephiroth's cheek. Grey-green eyes widened slightly and a light
blush stained the other male's cheeks. His gaze slid to the side,
somewhat embarrassed.

Something
inside Tseng warmed even further and he felt the urge to kiss the
former General once more. But he refrained in an effort to finish the
conversation. Besides, he understood completely what Sephiroth was
trying to say. He had gathered as much, from their previous
conversation and hints given by Zack that Sephiroth had never been in
a relationship before. For that matter, neither had Tseng truthfully.
A string of meaningless one night stands and cold encounters could
not be counted as a relationship. Honestly, he was as lost as
Sephiroth when it came to such matters.

"You
have no idea what you are doing," Tseng finished for him, smiling
when Sephiroth faintly blushed.

The
former General's gaze slid to the side. "Correct," he
responded, trying his best not to come off as a shy schoolgirl or
something equally mortifying. He was a SOLDIER who could kill without
a second thought, but physical intimacies were beyond his current
understanding.

"Would
you be willing to try?" the Turk asked, unconsciously pushing his
hips closer and smirking when he felt something hard in return. It
seemed he wasn't the only one affected by their encounter and his
blood stirred at the thought.

Sephiroth
was contemplative for a moment before taking some initiative. He
refused to be the one sitting on the side, not making his own
choices. Instead of verbally responding however, he leaned forward
and ended the distance between he and Tseng. His lips closed over the
Turk's, sliding his tongue quickly into the other's mouth and
mimicking Tseng's earlier actions. He was a prodigy after all, and
learned rather quickly.

Tseng
quickly succumbed to the kiss, a low moan rattling in his throat at
Sephiroth's initiative. He pressed even closer, their bodies
rubbing together as his hand curled tighter around Sephiroth's
waist, wishing he could simply crawl inside of the former General's
body. He had never needed so desperately before, never been so
aroused by a simple and clumsy kiss. He had never wanted so badly in
his entire life and it showed with the desperate way he practically
consumed Sephiroth's mouth.

The
former General was no less affected. Though he had no clue as to what
he was supposed to do, he reacted completely on instinct. His hands
clenched and unclenched where they had settled on Tseng's hips,
tightening as if he needed something cling to. He could feel the
evidence of Tseng's longing nudging against his own. His heart
thrummed in his chest, beating a fierce beat.

Tanned
fingers tangled in dyed hair, massaging Sephiroth's scalp before
abruptly releasing his head and sliding downwards, wriggling its way
between their bodies. Tseng's hand teased at the seam of
Sephiroth's jeans, hesitating at the band before taking the risk.
He slipped his hand beneath the soft cotton of Sephiroth's shirt
and splayed his fingers over the pale, washboard stomach.

The
SOLDIER's belly jerked in surprise beneath his touch but Tseng
continued doggedly, his chilly touch warmed by the other male's
flesh. He heard Sephiroth's breath hitch as he pressed him against
the railing, somewhat mimicking the first time they had ever kissed.

Sephiroth
was lost, drowning in every movement and touch. Tseng's fingers
were spread hot flashes across his skin wherever he touched and he
practically burned beneath his skin. He knew he wanted something,
anything, as a part of him began to ache, shivers spreading up and
down his spine. It was moving fast, probably too fast, but another,
deeper part of him didn't want to stop for any reason at all.
Especially when the Turk's hand slid further upwards, fingers
brushing over a nipple.

The
former General moaned low in his throat at the unexpected touch, his
body arching forward and closer to Tseng's. He opened his mouth
wider, allowing Tseng to deepen their kiss and losing himself in a
haze of pleasure. Everything that he had been brooding on flitted
away, pushing itself to the far reaches of his mind where it no
longer mattered for the present moment.

Above
them, the sky rumbled ominously but neither male appeared to notice
or even care. A brief cold wind tugged at their clothes, whipping
hair around their faces. Tseng continued to brush his fingers over
Sephiroth's nipple, the flesh tightening into a nub beneath his
ministrations.

And
then it began to rain.

Fat
and heavy droplets splashed down onto them as lightning flashed a
fair distance away, but still close enough to startle them. Tseng
broke away from the kiss, muttering a curse at fate under his breath.
He reluctantly detangled from Sephiroth, wincing when a fat raindrop
slid into his own eye. Where the storm had come from, he had no clue.

Sephiroth
was somewhat dazed as he mechanically adjusted his clothing,
regarding the storm with some confusion, as if he had never seen it
rain before.

"We
should go inside before either of us get sick," Tseng murmured,
watching longingly as pale skin disappeared beneath the appealing
white shirt. Though, the glimpse of pink, hardened nipples beneath
was just as enticing.

Sephiroth
flushed a little under the intent stare but managed to retain some
command of his senses. He nodded in agreement and the two males
quickly made their way across the roof, entering into the building
just as another loud rumble of thunder boomed above them. Within,
they shook their heads, staring miserably as water beaded from their
clothes and hair.

"I
hate the rain," Tseng grumbled under his breath, attempting to
wring water from his hair and not caring that he was soaking the
floor beneath him. It always seemed that there was something to
interrupt them, not that he planned on simply screwing his new
boyfriend he supposed was the best word for it, on the roof. He
couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Sephiroth
watched his actions with some amusement, his own disappointment
obvious. "It was unfortunate," he responded, flushing slightly
when silver eyes raised to him, watching him intently.

He
was prevented from having to say anything else witty when the door to
their left opened, admitting one of the Fort's residents carrying
several towels in her hands.

"I
thought you might be needing these," she commented softly, handing
them over as a faint flush brushed her cheeks.

Sephiroth
accepted the fluffy, black cloth that she handed over, marveling at
the coincidence. Tseng, however, was certain that a devious, blond
subordinate of his had something to do with it. He couldn't shake
the feeling that she had probably spied on them.

The
female bowed and left them alone, still dripping on the floor but
rubbing towels over their soaked heads. An awkward silence ensued,
sexual tension reverberating in the air. Tseng's erection throbbed
in his pants, wanting some sort of gratification.

Then
an idea. "I hear Fort Condor has a fully stocked training center,"
Sephiroth offered somewhat tentatively, at a loss for anything better
to say. Besides, he would need the training center to be stocked, his
weapon had vanished with Gilgamesh and he hadn't procured a
suitable replacement.

Tseng
raised a brow. "We never did get to start our duel," he added,
thinking back to when Vincent had interrupted them.

He
rubbed his towel over his head, wringing out most of the moisture
from the rain, which was still steadily falling outside. "Are you
up for one?" he asked.

The
Turk could only smile in response, recognizing it as a way to ease
out his frustrations even if he would have to resort to his hand
later. "Of course. Lead the way," he responded. As if he would
say no to spending some alone time with Sephiroth.

"Nooo,
Nanaki! That was my card!"

"Too
slow, Yufs!"

There
was a growl of anger. The sound of another card slapping down to the
table with a sharp thump. "Hah! Beat that!"

Snap!
Whish!

"It's
not over yet!"

Tensions
rose even higher, twin looks of concentration settled into the best
friend's faces.

"Hurry!
Deal 'em out!"

"…"

Total
and complete attentiveness. The race was on now. This was it, the
final moment. Nanaki sucked in a deep breath. He had only one more
card, just one and then--

"Mwa
ha ha! You lose!" Yuffie crowed, jumping to her feet and pumping
both fists into the air. "That's three times, 'Aki!" She
stuck out one hand, gesturing towards him. "Come on, hand it over."

The
demi-human frowned and attempted a pout that didn't quite work so
well. "I don't understand," he griped as he leaned back against
the headboard, digging into his pocket to produce his second favorite
materia, a fully mastered Fire that had mysteriously regained its
magical glow not too long ago. He reluctantly dropped it into her
hand and watched as she reveled fiercely, eyes gleaming as she
coveted the sphere.

Still,
as much as he hated to lose it, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed
seeing the wide smile on her face and the sparkle in her brown eyes.
After the fight with her father, she had been carrying around a
certain amount of weight on her shoulders and he could see the
haunted emotions sometimes. It was worth it to simply see her happy.
He had never expected that she would be so damn good at Speed though
he should have known it considering how well she could steal materia.

Nanaki
sighed. "Do you have to gloat so loudly?" he asked teasingly,
relaxing against the hard wood behind him.

They
had been sitting on his bed, playing card games for the last hour
since there was really nothing better to do. Yuffie was still too
injured for anything like training.

Her
smile was wide enough to split mountains as she tucked the materia
safely into her pocket and bounced back onto the bed, sending cards
scattering everywhere.

"Yes,
I do," she answered matter-of-factly, a mischievous look on her
face. "Do you have to be such a sore loser?"

He
crossed his arms over his chest and looked away with a pretend huff.
"You're injured, you should be resting," he countered
playfully, knowing that it would irk her to be accused of weakness.

There
was a moment of silence before the bed dipped and a body suddenly
hurled itself at him. Nanaki's breath whooshed out of his lungs as
the weight clung to his chest and he whipped his head around, arms
automatically falling around the smiling mess. Yuffie was frowning
cutely at him, her face a mix of annoyance, mischief, and something
else entirely as she straddled his thighs.

"I'm
not that hurt," she protested with her usual Yuffie logic. "Just
a scratch here and there." Her arms fell around his neck as she
pressed her face close to his, causing his heart rate to pick up
rapidly. She had been getting bolder lately, making it harder for him
to resist.

The
demi-human felt a slight flush taint his cheeks. "You get any
closer and I might have to kiss you," he commented, slightly
embarrassed by his own words.

"Well,
maybe I want you to," she murmured before leaning forward and
kissing her best friend softly. She could never quite get over the
subtle change in their relationship. She didn't understand it, she
didn't question it, but for now, was just going to accept things as
they came. Besides, there was something infinitely satisfying about
kissing him.

Nanaki
was no less affected. He quickly took control of the kiss, sliding
his tongue into Yuffie's mouth and tightening his arms around her,
pulling her against his chest. His hand slid against her back,
rubbing gently and carefully over the bandages wrapped around her
body. Her warmth was a welcome presence in his arms, her form soft
and unyielding.

Her
hand teased at the back of his neck, trailing against the hairs that
grew there and sending a shiver up his spine. She moved against him
in a decidedly sensual manner that severely tested his restraint,
even if he were moving by instinct alone. Her tongue mischievously
darted against his teeth, flicking across his pointed fangs as if
flirting with danger before moving to duel with his own tongue.

Nanaki
groaned, a low rumble low in his throat. Or at least he thought it
was a groan. It wasn't until Yuffie broke away from the kiss with a
smile on her face that he realized he was mistaken. She pulled back
slightly, poking at his belly with a finger.

"Hungry?"
she teased, poking him again.

He
flushed to the tip of his ears. "Perhaps a little," the
demi-human responded with slight embarrassment. What an awful time
for his stomach to grumble.

She
laughed at him, wriggling slightly in his lap which didn't make
things any better. "We should go find some food then. You're
still growing," she teased, poking at him again.

Golden
eyes rolled. "And you're hopeless," he countered, sliding his
hands up and down Yuffie's sides.

She
shivered at his touch, emitting an unconscious sigh before leaning
forward and laying her head on his shoulder. Silence filled the small
room, broken only by the sound of loud laughter as someone passed in
the hallway.

"What
are you going to do now?" Yuffie asked softly, disturbing the
quiet. "I mean, Cosmo Canyon is in the middle of rebuilding and
well…" she trailed off, not wanting to remind her best friend
that he had lost his only family member.

He
shrugged off-handedly, turning his head slightly and burying his face
in her dark hair. He faintly smelled citrus bath soap, which brought
a smile to his lips. "I haven't really thought about it. Suzaku
had promised to help me find my clan but now, I can't really see
that happening."

The
ninja stiffened momentarily at the mention of his clan, but forced
herself to relax. It was an entirely selfish reason that she was so
selfish about it and wasn't going to point out the issue to him.

"I'm
not going back to Wutai," she responded. "So wherever you go,
I'll go, too."

Nanaki
frowned. "You'll regret it if you don't make up with your
father," he responded quietly. "He's your only family."

"I
don't care," she said stubbornly. "He insulted you and tried to
force me to marry that stupid Uryuu. I won't do it."

He
sighed but didn't press the issue. "Perhaps I'll explore the
caves some more. I have the feeling the answers may be there."

"How
right you are, child of the flame." The voice echoed out of the
stillness, surprising both of them with its presence.

Yuffie
pulled away from Nanaki, immediately leaping into a defensive
position whereas the demi-human was utterly calm, recognizing the
voice.

His
eyes darted to their left, near to the door where the air seemed to
be shimmering. It pulsed and throbbed seconds before a familiar form
appeared in a fiery sparkle, a trace of a smile on her ageless and
beautiful face.

"Hello,
Nanaki," Suzaku commented softly before her eyes flickered to
Yuffie. "And to you as well, Yuffie."

The
ninja's shoulders sagged as if disappointed there would be no fight
and flopped back down onto the bed. "Hey, Suzaku. I thought you
guys weren't coming to Gaia anymore."

The
demi-goddess nodded and stepped gracefully forward, flickering a lock
of bright red hair from her eyes. "That was Kami's decree, yes.
But I had one last thing that I must do before I can merely fall into
the fold as a guardian." Her calm gaze fell on her animus,
softening immediately. "I made you a promise, didn't I?"

Nanaki
nodded before moving to slide from the bed, swinging his long legs
over the side of it. "You said you knew where to find my clan, that
I wasn't the last of them."

"That's
right." Stepping forward, Suzaku held out her hand in a closed
fist, gesturing for him to accept what was in her hold. "They are
beyond the barrier in the caves beneath Cosmo Canyon. You will need
this to break it."

Golden
eyes shimmered with unexpected emotion as he lifted up a hand and
watched as something dropped into his open palm. It greatly resembled
the charm on his necklace, though the design was a bit different than
the one around his neck. His gaze fell to the object, which looked as
if it had been carved from a materia, a Destruct materia for that
matter. Only, since it was not sphere shaped, it could not be
equipped.

"How
do I use it?" he breathed, lifting his eyes back to his anima.

She
smiled. "You cannot control the transformations, correct?" she
asked, and when he nodded, she continued. "That is because you were
missing a piece. I do not know where the original is but I had
another made for you. They are two parts of the whole, fitting
together like pieces of the puzzle. It is my final gift, child of the
flame. Use it well."

The
demi-human frowned slightly, not quite understanding what he was
supposed to do with it. The look of confusion caused Suzaku to
chuckle lightly before reaching forward and drawing her animus into a
hug, embracing him warmly.

"I
regret being unable to look after you, but should you need me, do not
hesitate to call," she murmured before pulling away and kissing him
lightly on the forehead. "I have since learned that some rules are
meant to be broken."

With
that, she drew back from Nanaki and put some space between the two of
them. Nanaki was somewhat troubled, his fingers closing around the
object. Suzaku's eyes shifted towards Yuffie, the smile remaining
on her lips.

"Watch
after him, ne?" she asked of the ninja. "He is still just a kid."

When
the demi-human spluttered indignantly, she merely smiled and promptly
twinkled out of existence, leaving the two alone in the room. In her
absence, Nanaki's eyes again fell to the item as he drew it near to
his body and examined it more closely. It almost looked as if it
would fit into something.

Yuffie
bounded over the table with more agility than an injured person
should have, her gaze glinting excitedly at the look of the materia.
"Wow," she breathed, reaching out to touch it. "It's
beautiful."

Nanaki
nodded distractedly, a bit of excitement beginning to rise within
him. "It is. And once Cosmo Canyon is well on its way to
rebuilding, I'm going to test it." He smiled then, a true smile
different than what Yuffie had been privy to seeing in quite some
time. "Do you want to help me?"

Again,
she fought down the fear and jealousy. She didn't want to lose her
friend, but didn't want to see him unhappy either. So for him, she
would pretend she wasn't hurt in the slightest. She forced a smile
onto her face.

"Of
course, 'Aki," she declared. "You know I'm there for you."

He
grinned widely, throwing his arms over her shoulders and drawing her
into a close hug. "I knew I could count on you." He failed to
catch the look on his best friend's face, both the disappointment
and the worry. Yuffie could only cling tighter to him and hide her
face before he discovered the truth.

She
didn't want to worry him, after all.

The
sizzle of oil in a pan and eggs cracking over the edge was a quiet
noise in the background as light laughter echoed in the rather
expansive kitchen. Archer listened to it all with only half an ear,
ignoring the jibes and taunts that Reno was throwing his way for
being a man who knew his way around the kitchen. He continued to cook
eggs as he had offered, one elbow nudging aside the other food he had
already made that was just waiting to be served. It wasn't his
fault that Reeve was hungry and had given his former subordinate a
pleading look to feed his aching belly. Not to mention no
one was interested in
whatever Reno thought he
could cook aka create.

"You
would make the perfect little housewife," Reno teased, leaning back
in his chair and propping his feet up on the table. "I just need to
get you a frilly apron, you know the kind with red hearts and lace,
yo."

Amethyst
eyes narrowed yet Archer took it all in stride. He sniffed somewhat
haughtily and shook his spatula at the Tuesti sister. "Well, if
Reis wouldn't attempt to burn down the kitchen I'd make her do
it."

The
amber-eyed female shook her head. "Don't blame this on me, Kyle.
You offered, remember? Besides, I can't help it I'm no good in
the kitchen."

"That's
what you get for having servants," Reno offered, shooting her a
lazy grin. "It makes you inept."

"Big
words for a small brain," Reis shot back with an equally amusing
smile.

Reeve
could only shake his head at all three of them, the lot were really
children, he was certain of it. It didn't matter that Archer was
probably older than all of them, even if he only had Reeve himself
beat by a little over a week. Still, the shadows that had haunted his
friend's eyes lately could not be mistaken and Reeve was glad that
he could see a smile on Archer's face.

A
hand touched his arm and Reeve turned his attention to his sister at
his side, albeit a bit slowly since he was still sore all over his
body. He had woken from his coma but hadn't completely healed.

"What?"
he asked as Archer and Reno continued to trade jibes in the
background.

"You
wanted to speak to all of us, didn't you?" Reis asked, a warm
smile on her face. "Isn't that why you limped down to the
kitchen, even if you were also hungry?"

At
her words, it was as if a command for silence had been uttered. All
bickering went silent as they swiveled their heads towards him.

"Right,
babe. And Rude couldn't make it because he's cuddling with
Shera." Winking brightly, Reno continued, "I promised to keep him
updated."

Amber
eyes rolled. "I just wanted to discuss our plans for ShinRa
Corporation and the future." Reeve looked around, missing his usual
calm and stoic presence. "I was hoping Tseng would be here."

Knowing
eyes, which was everyone in the room outside of the President
himself, exchanged glances before Archer let loose a deep chuckle.
"Tseng is otherwise occupied," he explained, shooting his former
boss a look. "And if I were him, I would skip this meeting for that
any day."

Reeve
blinked in confusion as he eyed the others, easily detecting that
there was something going on no one had bothered to share. "Is this
something I don't know about?" he asked, unable to remember if
anything significant had happened to his close friend.

"You
can't help that you're oblivious," Reno teased, leaning close
to his lover and entwining their fingers together, still wanting to
keep close to his husband after what had happened. "Do you even
know what Elena's been up to?"

The
President shook his head, shifting slightly in his seat. "With
everything that has been happening lately, how would I?"

Archer
couldn't help but laugh. "It's nothing but a little romance,
Reeve. Tseng was eying Sephiroth for a long time and you know how
Elena gets when she chooses her prey."

Reeve's
mouth opened then closed just as promptly as he seemed at a loss for
words. Finally, he shook his head and took a breath, rubbing a hand
across his forehead.

"No
one ever tells me anything," he muttered under his breath before
continuing, "We'll just have to go on without them then."

Plates
began to clatter to the table as Archer served everyone, setting
before them scrambled eggs and bacon. It was a simple meal, but
enough to feed their hungry bellies.

"What
are your plans?" Archer asked as he set out the last of the food
and took one of the empty seats.

The
President picked up his fork and scooped up some of the
cheese-covered eggs. "I want to disband ShinRa, consolidating all
of its assets and creating the WRO," he explained slowly,
enthusiasm beginning to peak through his tone as he continued, "The
world has been damaged extensibly, with almost fifty percent of all
living areas destroyed beyond recognition. A large corporation isn't
needed, but something else."

Reis
furrowed her brow. "The WRO? What exactly is it? What does it do?"

"The
World Regenesis Organization," Reeve answered with a smile. "It
will be dedicated to rebuilding what has been destroyed. All soldiers
employed by ShinRa will be offered jobs in the WRO with only one
mission, to protect and serve the people. It's about time that
ShinRa's money did some good."

Reeve
nodded. "Yes. I originally created the reactors as a way to help
people, but as with all things that ShinRa got their hands on, in the
end they only hurt others. Now, I can make amends. And I hope that
you guys are willing to help me."

"Of
course!" Archer responded, shaking his head. "As if I'd say no.
And I'm pretty sure that Tseng, Elena, and Rude feel the same way.
WRO sounds like a great idea; I'm not surprised you came up with
it."

The
President had to fight to keep his cheeks from reddening. While not
prone to random acts of blushing, it was rare that someone praised
him for his work, his parents words still a lingering disappointment.

"I
appreciate it everyone," he replied honestly. "I didn't think I
could do it on my own."

The
President nodded. "You already know, Reis. I don't know why you
insist on teasing." He shook his head before deciding to just jump
right into it. "Would you be willing to surrogate for Reno and I?"

Amber
eyes, nearly a mirror to his own, sparkled merrily. "Of course,
Reeve. You didn't even have to ask." She grinned but it was
entirely mischievous. "I can't wait to see the look on Mother and
Father's faces."

Reeve
groaned, sliding a hand over is face. "Don't remind me," he
muttered, wanting to sink down in his chair. "I dread the very
thought of it."

"Not
that it matters," Reno said with a sniff. "We're going to go
through with it whether they like it or not."

"And
then we can all be one big, happy family, right?" Reis added,
slinging her arms over both Reeve and Reno's shoulders.

"If
only slightly insane," Archer added with a chuckle.

A
general chorus of laughter echoed around the table.

"I
knew I'd find you here."

Sephiroth
startled slightly and whipped his head to the side, looking up with a
faint flash of guilt on his face. His concentration left the book he
had been perusing, directing itself towards the invading presence of
his best friend.

"The
war is over, the world is saved," Zack added with a saucy grin as
he strode further into the library, maneuvering easily through the
narrow aisles formed by the bookshelves, "And instead of finding
you making out with Tseng, you are here, poring through dusty,
ancient texts."

Pale
cheeks reddened slightly as Sephiroth replaced the book in his hand
back onto the shelf, shoved between two equally thick and difficult
to comprehend texts. "Hojo did some research here," he explained
quietly, a bit embarrassed by Zack's usual forwardness. "I was
hoping to--"

"Seph!"
Zack suddenly exclaimed, interrupting him before he could even finish
his thought. Mischief sparkled in his gaze. "Did you get laid?"

Gray
green eyes widened impossibly large as the faint hint of red deepened
to a brightly visible crimson flush that spread across his nose and
cheeks. "What?" the former General repeated, mouth unusually
gape.

Yet,
Zack was not to be deterred. His mouth stretched a mile wide into a
grin as he shook his finger at his best friend. "Or something
similar you sly dog. I know what that look means," he crowed.

He
darted forward and before Sephiroth could escape him, he had the
former General by the neck, using his elbow as leverage. His free
hand ruffled the dyed strands wildly as he laughed, giving the older
man a faintly electrified look. Predictably, Sephiroth resisted,
trying to squirm free of Zack's unnaturally strong grip.

"Zack!"
he protested loudly, attempting not to knock over the many stacks of
books balanced precariously at their feet. "Grow up!"

"Never!"
the spiky-haired man argued with a raucous laugh, echoing loudly and
disturbing the silence of the library. Only, there was no grey-haired
old lady to tell him to shush. No one manned the old collection of
books and documents.

Sephiroth
sighed and stopped struggling, knowing he had no choice but to
endure. "You must have a little something to brag about as well,"
he commented, idly reaching up with one hand and trying to pat down
his hair. "You're only this energetic when you've been with
someone."

Blue
eyes glinted mischievously as Zack pulled him into a tight hug, the
affection from him Sephiroth was used to putting up with. "Right.
We SOLDIER's can't keep our hands off the Turks, hmm?"

Faintly
blushing, Sephiroth wriggled out of Zack's hold. "You never stop,
do you?" he asked, only half serious as he nimbly edged out of
Zack's reach and turned his eyes back to the bookcase he had been
staring at earlier. His hands immediately reached for one that seemed
promising, a ratty looking notebook with sheaves of paper poking out
of the tops and sides.

"Why
would I?" Zack asked, sobering slowly as he began to recognize the
strange aura to the room. Sephiroth was acting oddly, not that he was
usually bright and chipper. "Life gets boring if I try to be
serious all the time," he continued, watching his best friend
closely.

Sephiroth
hummed distractedly, only half paying him attention as he flipped
through the pages of what appeared to be a scientific journal. His
eyes rapidly scanned the scrawled text, obviously looking for
something important.

Crystalline
eyes were curious. "Seph… what are you doing?"

"I
overheard that Hojo once did research here. Not a lot of course, but
also that he was using this place to store documents he no longer
considered important." He leafed through a few other pages, wincing
when a few ripped from age and neglect. "There might be something
here."

Zack
frowned, an uncomfortable feeling sitting in the pit of his stomach.
He had the most unsettling feeling of déjà vu. "Why?"

"It's
something I have to do," Sephiroth answered succinctly, his lips
pursing as he flipped to the back of the journal, reading through the
acknowledgments and sources. "The world is saved and now I have no
place. I have to know... without the madness and the burning of
someone's home."

Well,
that was reassuring.

"What
are you going to do?" Zack asked, incredibly worried since
Sephiroth hadn't talked to him about any of this. He was used to
knowing everything there was to know about his best friend, but now
he had the disconcerting worry that there were some secrets he had
never understood.

The
former General shook his head. "I don't know." He sighed,
snapping the book shut and staring helplessly at the many other
volumes scattered around the shelves before turning somewhat sad
gray-green eyes towards his best friend.

"I'm
afraid, Zack. Of the things I don't know about myself. My memories,
the ones that Persephone unlocked… there were images that I thought
were only nightmares that might well be true."

Fear
and Sephiroth were never two things that had gone hand in hand in
Zack's mind. He frowned, uncomfortable with the strange fluttering
of feelings around.

"Like
what?"

A
moment passed before Sephiroth immediately closed up, shutting down
everything to Zack's perusal. He shook his head. "

It's
hard to say. But I don't think I can move on until I find out
something. About Hojo… my past… what he's done to me…"

Zack
crossed his arm over his chest, leaning against the bookcase. "Move
on?"

The
former General nodded and turned his haunted gaze back to the
bookshelf, as if he could no longer to look into Zack's eyes. "It
might be too much for someone like me to ask for but I owe it to him
to at least try," he responded quietly.

He
tilted his head to the side, somewhat confused, before a revelation
suddenly struck him. "You're talking about Cloud, aren't you?"

A
strange look crossed Sephiroth's face as he watched Zack from the
corner of his eye. "You knew, didn't you? That Cloud was in love
with me?"

The
taller male sighed. "I know. Aeris told me that he trusted me,
admired me even and how have I repaid him?" he asked rhetorically
before answering his own query. "By failing miserably."

"Seph,"
Zack started, shaking his head. "You can't--"

"I
can and I will," Sephiroth interrupted firmly, reaching for a
couple of notebooks and stacking them into his arms for later
reading. "Don't worry about me, Zack. You've done enough of
that. I think you should live your life now without having to worry
over me."

Zack
frowned, not liking the other man's tone of voice. It sounded
resigned. "You know I always have your back, Seph. That's not
going to change."

His
best friend turned towards him, face a careful and unreadable mask.
The world is saved. We've no more need to battle," he commented.
"It is safe to say that the world can dream again." A slight
smile tugged at the corner of his lips but it was empty. "That's
all a person could ask for, right? It's what we fought for."

Zack
was uncertain. "Right," he half-responded, watching as Sephiroth
stepped past him and headed for the door to the library. He didn't
miss the fact that his best friend had made no mention of his own
happiness or dreams.

He
shifted towards the other man's retreating form. "If you need me,
you know you can just call," he offered, for some reason feeling as
if he were losing something important.

Sephiroth
paused in the doorway. "I know Zack, Thanks." Something flashed,
falling in pools of glimmering green before Sephiroth was gone,
leaving Zack alone in the library with a worried look on his face.

To
be continued in "Shattered Traditions" a Yuffie/Nanaki tale, with
"Shattered Children" to follow.

Well, guys, this is the end of Shattered Dreams, but
not the series! There's still two more fics to go before I can rest. Here's a
little heads up for you. I'm attempting to write both ST and SC at the same
time, we'll see how it goes.

There will be a month long lag between this chapter
and the first chapter I post of either Shattered Traditions or Shattered
Children, whichever I manage to finish first. I want to get some other projects
out of the way first. (Like finishing Desperate Reflections for instance.) In
the meantime, feel free to check out any of the numerous original works I have available.

At this point, I'm estimating ST to be about ten
chapters long, and SC to be about 30. We'll see how it goes once I finally
start writing them.

All right, for those still confused by what has happened, feel free to contact me with
an e-mail and what not. If it's something I don't plan on explaining in the
sequels and/or you don't mind spoilers, I will be happy to answer your
questions.

Phew! I think that's everything. Thanks guys, for
sticking with me through this monster of a fic! I look forward to reading your
concluding comments and I return to work on the sequels!

Draco-sama

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.